On any given day, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is a shining example of more or less pristine green space in a densely packed urban area. Its trees tower, pulling up the blankets of fog from the ocean; its human-made bodies of water flow in intricate systems of streams, waterfalls, and lake chains; its wild blackberry bushes create a juicy bramble beside bike paths. Voles and foxes (and the occasional person) make their homes among the nasturium.
Then, for three days in August, 60,000+ hipsters each day pour into a handful of meadows, as thick and viscous as the fog itself, and the park is transformed into a raucous, wild music festival. Amps are stacked like ziggurats where last week a family was picnicking. An endless row of food vendor booths has taken up the bike trail. The air surges with amplified guitar fuzz and obscenities from the mouths of performers, and you can almost feel the ground shake from the trampling feet of a herd of humanity.
click to see full-size panorama
Then, when the three-day rock orgy is over, Golden Gate Park is miraculously returned to its original state. Pristine. Clean. Foxes and voles and nasturtium. There’s no wasteland of tumbleweeds and greasy napkins, no deep trenches created by band vans’ tires.
Somehow, Outside Lands takes Golden Gate Park from the city each year, turns it inside out for the love of rock & roll, then manages to return it in its original condition as though nothing had ever happened.
Such small miracles involve a lot of planning, a lot of volunteers, a lot of work.
During this year’s festival, VentureBeat took some time to meander around the festival grounds and talk to the many people who make up Outside Lands’ on-the-ground eco team. Here’s what we learned (read the captions for the rest of the story).
-
OL-00
The first key to understanding Outside Lands' greening is understanding its location: the very green heart of San Francisco. The city's park code makes it very clear that vendors and event runners need to plan ahead for and enforce composting and recycling, that clean air is a priority, that renewable power, including solar power, is going to become mandatory (at least one group in the city government has developed a plan with "the goal of San Francisco becoming fossil fuel free by 2030"). And polystyrene foam is strictly prohibited for all food vendors in the city; compostable or recyclable disposable food service goods are mandatory unless such ware can't be found -- and that goes for contractors or vendors working on city-owned property, too.
The first key to understanding Outside Lands' greening is understanding its location: the very green heart of San Francisco. The city's park code makes it very clear that vendors and event runners need to plan ahead for and enforce composting and recycling, that clean air is a priority, that renewable power, including solar power, is going to become mandatory (at least one group in the city government has developed a plan with "the goal of San Francisco becoming fossil fuel free by 2030"). And polystyrene foam is strictly prohibited for all food vendors in the city; compostable or recyclable disposable food service goods are mandatory unless such ware can't be found -- and that goes for contractors or vendors working on city-owned property, too.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
OL-1
Eco Lands is one of the connected meadows within the larger Outside Lands festival that highlights the green efforts of local and national businesses -- and in the Bay Area, there are plenty of such local initiatives for Eco Lands to highlight. San Francisco itself has a city-wide Green Business program to "encourage and recognize businesses that: conserve the use of natural resources, such as electricity, water and fuel; reduce, reuse, recycle and compost materials; reduce the use and generation of hazardous materials and hazardous waste; and take affirmative steps to prevent pollution."
Eco Lands is one of the connected meadows within the larger Outside Lands festival that highlights the green efforts of local and national businesses -- and in the Bay Area, there are plenty of such local initiatives for Eco Lands to highlight. San Francisco itself has a city-wide Green Business program to "encourage and recognize businesses that: conserve the use of natural resources, such as electricity, water and fuel; reduce, reuse, recycle and compost materials; reduce the use and generation of hazardous materials and hazardous waste; and take affirmative steps to prevent pollution."
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-02
Inside the Eco Lands meadow, we saw this eco-stage set up between alternative energy booths and farmers' vending stands. Nestled in a eucalyptus grove, the stage was run by Alternative Power Productions, a company focused on clean, renewable energy for large music events.
"Alternative Power Productions has been an instrumental partner to Another Planet Entertainment as we have looked for ways to incorporate alternative energy into both Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival and Treasure Island Music Festival," said Outside Lands organizer Bryan Duquette in an email. "Alternative Power Productions has a competitive edge in the production of environmentally sustainable concerts, as they know both green business practices and the music promotion business.”
Inside the Eco Lands meadow, we saw this eco-stage set up between alternative energy booths and farmers' vending stands. Nestled in a eucalyptus grove, the stage was run by Alternative Power Productions, a company focused on clean, renewable energy for large music events.
"Alternative Power Productions has been an instrumental partner to Another Planet Entertainment as we have looked for ways to incorporate alternative energy into both Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival and Treasure Island Music Festival," said Outside Lands organizer Bryan Duquette in an email. "Alternative Power Productions has a competitive edge in the production of environmentally sustainable concerts, as they know both green business practices and the music promotion business.”
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
OL-2
Bicycles were a huge part of Outside Lands' transpo plans. From the pedicabs trucking in concert-goers to the fully sponsored bike valet and repair stand to the seeming miles of free bike racks for parking, the festival celebrated the two-wheeled transporation that San Francisco itself has embraced so enthusiastically.
Bicycles were a huge part of Outside Lands' transpo plans. From the pedicabs trucking in concert-goers to the fully sponsored bike valet and repair stand to the seeming miles of free bike racks for parking, the festival celebrated the two-wheeled transporation that San Francisco itself has embraced so enthusiastically.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-3
These bike racks wound throughout the main arterial street running into Golden Gate Park. Cut off from car traffic, these streets piled up with bikes -- thousands or even tens of thousands of them throughout the three-day festival.
These bike racks wound throughout the main arterial street running into Golden Gate Park. Cut off from car traffic, these streets piled up with bikes -- thousands or even tens of thousands of them throughout the three-day festival.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-4
The Levi's-sponsored bike valet, free of charge for concert attendees, was run by local business owner Remy Nelson. Nelson owns nearby hipster hangout Mojo Bicycle Cafe, a combination latte dispensary and cult bike shop.
The Levi's-sponsored bike valet, free of charge for concert attendees, was run by local business owner Remy Nelson. Nelson owns nearby hipster hangout Mojo Bicycle Cafe, a combination latte dispensary and cult bike shop.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-5
We asked Nelson what kinds of people were biking into the fest. "It's everyone from the city," he told us. "It's actually kinda cool; this is my first time running it." He was asked to run the bike valet service by Ruth, who formerly ran The Independent, a beloved local music venue mere blocks away from Nelson's cafe.
We asked Nelson what kinds of people were biking into the fest. "It's everyone from the city," he told us. "It's actually kinda cool; this is my first time running it." He was asked to run the bike valet service by Ruth, who formerly ran The Independent, a beloved local music venue mere blocks away from Nelson's cafe.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-06
Nelson noted the valet service was located on a sloped lot -- a unique challenge for him and his team. Also, the air was filled with the distinctive odor of manure-tinged mulch. Still, Nelson seemed happy and totally in his element.
Nelson noted the valet service was located on a sloped lot -- a unique challenge for him and his team. Also, the air was filled with the distinctive odor of manure-tinged mulch. Still, Nelson seemed happy and totally in his element.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
OL-07
Misty Turner was staffing the volunteer checkin booth. These volunteers had signed up for shifts in exchange for tickets or, for those working more shifts, weekend-long wristbands. Throughout the day, the checkin booth was stacked three or four people deep with hip, young kids.
Their shifts stretch around the clock, from the festival's opening hours on Friday morning until the wee hours after the festival pulls up stakes; some volunteers work overnight to do extra cleanup between festival days, and still others will work for two full days after the festival to complete cleanup.
"The park looks better when we leave it than when we come in," says Turner.
Misty Turner was staffing the volunteer checkin booth. These volunteers had signed up for shifts in exchange for tickets or, for those working more shifts, weekend-long wristbands. Throughout the day, the checkin booth was stacked three or four people deep with hip, young kids.
Their shifts stretch around the clock, from the festival's opening hours on Friday morning until the wee hours after the festival pulls up stakes; some volunteers work overnight to do extra cleanup between festival days, and still others will work for two full days after the festival to complete cleanup.
"The park looks better when we leave it than when we come in," says Turner.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
OL-08
Turner tells me that one of the main jobs for volunteers is "trash talking" -- standing near the scores of trash/recycling/composting receptacles and making sure the right materials go into the right bins. These volunteers are one of the most visible faces of the festival, and as we watch them go about their work, we see them taking a lot of time to educate concert-goers.
Turner tells me that one of the main jobs for volunteers is "trash talking" -- standing near the scores of trash/recycling/composting receptacles and making sure the right materials go into the right bins. These volunteers are one of the most visible faces of the festival, and as we watch them go about their work, we see them taking a lot of time to educate concert-goers.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-09
"Trash talker" volunteers like this one would often physically reach into a trash bin and pull out a compostable plate or napkin, explaining to the ticketholder what items go where. As this guy informed me, all the food and beverage ware at Outside Lands is actually compostable.
By mid-morning, this volunteer had filled two full bags of compostable waste; not more than a couple handfuls of waste were in his "trash" bin.
At last year's festival, he tells me, only 30 percent of all the waste from Outside Lands ended up in a landfill; goals for this year are even more aggressive.
Significantly, these volunteers all seem to care very much about what they're doing; they're not just trading time spent moping by a trashcan for a free ticket to see Jack White or Neil Young. Back at the volunteer checkin booth, one hipster in Keds and clear Ray Bans picks up a cleanup shift in exchange for a day pass, while several would-be scalpers mutter requests for a ticket and shuffle by without any desire to do cleanup work.
"Trash talker" volunteers like this one would often physically reach into a trash bin and pull out a compostable plate or napkin, explaining to the ticketholder what items go where. As this guy informed me, all the food and beverage ware at Outside Lands is actually compostable.
By mid-morning, this volunteer had filled two full bags of compostable waste; not more than a couple handfuls of waste were in his "trash" bin.
At last year's festival, he tells me, only 30 percent of all the waste from Outside Lands ended up in a landfill; goals for this year are even more aggressive.
Significantly, these volunteers all seem to care very much about what they're doing; they're not just trading time spent moping by a trashcan for a free ticket to see Jack White or Neil Young. Back at the volunteer checkin booth, one hipster in Keds and clear Ray Bans picks up a cleanup shift in exchange for a day pass, while several would-be scalpers mutter requests for a ticket and shuffle by without any desire to do cleanup work.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
OL-10
These biodiesel generators were powering speakers in the middle of the main-stage meadow as well as the speakers and other equipment for the Eco Lands stage. The "Green Machine" generators, made by NorCal-based Cresco, run on 100 percent biodiesel, known as B100, and are becoming more common in eco-friendly music festivals.
In addition to 20, 70, and 100 KW Green Machines, Cresco also sells and rents mobile solar arrays, which we saw elsewhere around the festival.
These biodiesel generators were powering speakers in the middle of the main-stage meadow as well as the speakers and other equipment for the Eco Lands stage. The "Green Machine" generators, made by NorCal-based Cresco, run on 100 percent biodiesel, known as B100, and are becoming more common in eco-friendly music festivals.
In addition to 20, 70, and 100 KW Green Machines, Cresco also sells and rents mobile solar arrays, which we saw elsewhere around the festival.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
OL-11
Around the festival, concert-goers had their choice of food to choose from. San Francisco is a food-oriented town; after all, with all these hills and all this love of bicycling, we can afford to eat well.
Around the festival, concert-goers had their choice of food to choose from. San Francisco is a food-oriented town; after all, with all these hills and all this love of bicycling, we can afford to eat well.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-12
One of the biggest attractions of the Eco Lands meadow was its string of local, organic food, prepared with love or served fresh off the farm.
One of the biggest attractions of the Eco Lands meadow was its string of local, organic food, prepared with love or served fresh off the farm.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-13
Full Belly Farm's stand has been one of the more popular food vendors at the fest for a couple years running. Located in the Capay Valley of Northern California, the farm itself is a 2-3 hour drive from the city, and its 80 different crops yield a year-round harvest for the small business.
Full Belly Farm's stand has been one of the more popular food vendors at the fest for a couple years running. Located in the Capay Valley of Northern California, the farm itself is a 2-3 hour drive from the city, and its 80 different crops yield a year-round harvest for the small business.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-14
Jordan Dixon, a Full Belly Farm employee at the booth, told us that the Outside Lands organizers used to rotate through various farms as vendors for the fest, but they'd been bringing Full Belly onboard repeatedly in recent years.
"Last year, we made, like, $8,000, which is pretty great for a weekend," he said.
Jordan Dixon, a Full Belly Farm employee at the booth, told us that the Outside Lands organizers used to rotate through various farms as vendors for the fest, but they'd been bringing Full Belly onboard repeatedly in recent years.
"Last year, we made, like, $8,000, which is pretty great for a weekend," he said.
-
ol-15
Eco Lands also had quite a few booths on urban farming, which has been strongly legitimized by several San Francisco legislative moves, and home gardening. These two were spreading the good word about Urban Sprouts, a program for establishing school gardens in San Francisco’s under-served neighborhoods.
Eco Lands also had quite a few booths on urban farming, which has been strongly legitimized by several San Francisco legislative moves, and home gardening. These two were spreading the good word about Urban Sprouts, a program for establishing school gardens in San Francisco’s under-served neighborhoods.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-16
But there's one huge, overarching, subtle, unavoidable benefit Outside Lands gives to the eco-conscious movement that touches every attendee: Golden Gate Park itself. You can't approach the meadows without seeing abundant natural life, being surrounded by the smells of fresh, growing plants. Even on during the festival's coldest, foggiest moments, attendees were surrounded by the park's famous natural beauty, whether they were sitting on the wide, grassy hillsides or climbing through the bramble around the meadows.
But there's one huge, overarching, subtle, unavoidable benefit Outside Lands gives to the eco-conscious movement that touches every attendee: Golden Gate Park itself. You can't approach the meadows without seeing abundant natural life, being surrounded by the smells of fresh, growing plants. Even on during the festival's coldest, foggiest moments, attendees were surrounded by the park's famous natural beauty, whether they were sitting on the wide, grassy hillsides or climbing through the bramble around the meadows.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-17
Even the performers themselves were framed by elegant stands of tall trees. At the Eco Lands stage, Tennis launched into an album-perfect tune amid eucalyptus trees and blackberry bushes.
Even the performers themselves were framed by elegant stands of tall trees. At the Eco Lands stage, Tennis launched into an album-perfect tune amid eucalyptus trees and blackberry bushes.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
-
ol-18
Even the portable toilets were green, with lighting powered by this portable solar panel.
Even the portable toilets were green, with lighting powered by this portable solar panel.
Source: Jolie O'Dell
- Previous Slides
-
- Next Slides
Of course, no efforts to “green” any event are going to be perfect. The roads leading into the park’s heart were still lined with gas-guzzling tour buses. Diesel generators still powered some of the main stage equipment. Drunken revelers still mistakenly tossed recyclables into the landfill-bound trash bins.
And yes, among the sincere efforts of volunteers and eco-focused groups, there were still a few greenwashing attempts — most notably by large corporations that had spent tens of thousands (or more) on Eco Lands booths to lure the young and impressionable toward the idea that any multinational gives a rat’s hind end about the planet more than it does about its own bottom line.
But overall, as we walked and biked through Golden Gate Park in the days after the festival, we were grateful and impressed by Outside Lands’ successful efforts to, minimally, return the place unharmed to those who love it year-round.
